THIEF OF HEARTS (Hearts #5) by L H COSWAY

“You made me realise that softness is necessary. That we need both. People who are kind and who help others are needed, but so are people who are hard, toughened by experience. If everyone was like me, the world would be a shitty place. People like you give people like me a soft place to fall………just be my soft place to fall. I need you, Andrea”

Thief of Hearts; what an aptly titled story because Stu and Andie (and Alfie) just completely stole our hearts. The Hearts series by L.H Cosway is without a doubt one of our all time  favourite romance series, with Hearts of Fire and King of Hearts being up there as two of our favourite reads ever.

This series encapsulates all that we love in our romance books; real and engaging characters, witty giggle worthy banter, passion, romance, swoon and emotion….not to mention a gorgeous blush inducing sweet and sexy hero! What more could we ask for?

“Even when you’ve given up on yourself, I won’t give up on you.”

This author never fails to deliver romance that makes us sit up and take notice. She continuously sweeps us up in her stories time and time again. There is just something so utterly special about her stories and her characters; the perfect balance of drama, fun and emotion, strength and vulnerability.

We’ve been falling in love with these Cross brothers since meeting them in previous books and honestly, what’s not to love about these sexy, sweet, charming, loyal and lovable rogues? The Cross boys are a bunch of scallywags  and their skulduggery keep us on our toes as they endear themselves to us the more time we spend in their company. This time around we get an up close and personal of Stu through Andie’s eyes.

“Maybe my idea of wonderful is just different to yours. Ever think of that?”
“Okay, true. But if you go around living your life indifferent to new experiences, you’re going to have a grey life. Wouldn’t you prefer it to have a rainbow?”

Stu Cross has just come out of a two year stretch in prison, after stepping up to the plate and taking the fall to protect his family. Prison has changed Stu and his brothers are worried. He’s still a bit mouthy but post prison Stu seems to have retreated into himself somewhat.

Stu enrols in an adult education class where he meets Andrea Anderson who, at only 28 has been a widow for four years and who still painfully bears the scars of her loss and is struggling to survive under a mountain of debt. There is an instant attraction between the sexy Stu and the adorable Andie that sees her risk her job as his teacher to further explore their chemistry.

“You’re not invisible like you think you are,” he whispered, eyes holding mine intensely. “You’re beautiful. So beautiful. I see you.”

After years of merely existing Stu made her feel alive. He shows her the possibilities of finding love again if she is game enough to open her heart. But…..is all as it seems and is Stu really after an education or is there some shenanigans afoot? And what could it possibly have to do with Andie and her cousin Alfie? And talking of Alfie…omg! What a delightful, sweet and sad character he was. We just wanted to give him a big hug. Such a sensitive and beautiful soul.

‘Alfie was an emotional sponge. The outside world held too much pain for my cousin, because he was just one person, far too small to absorb it all.’

Seriously, there is nothing not to love about LH Cosways, Thief of Hearts! If you love a beautiful romance- if a sexy hot dirty talking and very charming scoundrel hits the spot, if you want to spend time with a sweet and relatable heroine, become smitten by some quirky and lovable characters and unravel a surprises along the way…..grab this book. And talking of surprises…. Well played L.H. Cosway, *claps hands* well played indeed. We did not see that coming! How very clever of you! Another winner in this fabulous series!

Whilst this can be read as a standalone…..we can’t say enough that the whole series is a reading experience you shouldn’t miss!